Pages

4.12.2012

addendum to: doing right by our rights

I was thinking about blogging today (I told you I was committing to thinking about it at least three times a week, and I'm doing it. I'm sometimes good at doing what I say I'm going to do) and realized that I left something important out of last night's post.

Because I am already daydreaming about writing something very snotty about effective co-parenting in divorced parent relationships for tomorrow's blog I figured I'd throw in a little bonus tonight.

I forgot to mention about the Personal Bill of Rights that the most important thing to know about it is that you and everyone else on earth shares the same rights. Obviously I emphasized that you (I) do, and that our children do, but I forgot the "everyone else" part. I think that's because historically I have been all too aware of other people's right to their rights. In fact, I've given away many of mine to ensure they can have theirs honored. So when I think about the Personal Bill of Rights it is most useful for me as a tool to remember that those are my rights and a tool to remember that they are also my son's. For any who might need it... here's another way of looking at them:

1. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to ask for what we want

2. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to say no to requests or demands we can't meet.

3. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to express all of our feelings, positive or negative.

4. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to change our minds.

5. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.

6. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to follow our own values and standards.

7. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to say no to anything when we feel we are not ready, it is unsafe or it violates our values.

8. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to determine our own priorities.

9. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right not to be responsible for others' behavior, actions, feelings or problems

10. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to expect honesty from others.

11. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be angry at someone we love.

12. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be uniquely ourselves.

13. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to feel scared and say '1'm afraid."

14. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to say '1 don't know.

15. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right not to give excuses or reasons for our behavior.

16. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to make decisions based on our feelings.

17. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to our own needs for personal space and time.

18. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be playful and frivolous.

19. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be healthier than those around us.

20. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be in a nonabusive environment.

21. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to make friends and be comfortable around people.

22. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to change and grow.

23. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to have our needs and wants respected by others

24. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be treated with dignity and respect

25. Every human being on earth (including myself and my child) has the right to be happy.

Just a thought. There are probably a million different variations we could come up with. Can you think of any?